Highbrow Magazine - daniel day lewis https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/daniel-day-lewis en ‘Lincoln,’ ‘Killing Them Softly’ Arrive on DVD, Blu-ray https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/2283-lincoln-killing-them-softly-arrive-dvd-blu-ray <div class="field field-name-field-cat field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/film-tv" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Film &amp; TV</a></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by">Submitted by tara on Tue, 03/26/2013 - 12:31</span><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/mediumLincoln%20-%20Horizontal.JPG?itok=duTwkNRJ"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/mediumLincoln%20-%20Horizontal.JPG?itok=duTwkNRJ" width="480" height="256" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>  </p> <p> This week’s home video releases are anchored by a terrific historical drama that was nominated for 12 Oscars, including best picture. </p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Lincoln</strong></p> <p> <strong>4 stars (out of four)<br /> Rated PG<br /> DreamWorks<br /> Available on: Blu-ray, DVD, digital download and on demand</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> Despite its all-encompassing title, director Steven Spielberg’s “Lincoln” is more about politics than the 16<sup>th</sup> president of the United States. To be sure, Abraham Lincoln, as depicted by Daniel Day-Lewis, is the central figure in the movie. But the focus is purely on his push to pass the 13<sup>th</sup> Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Missing are scenes of Lincoln’s childhood and his moves as a fledgling politician. Instead, viewers meet the president at the height of his political prowess, and they watch as he manipulates American government in a way few politicians – before or after – have been able to accomplish.</p> <p>  </p> <p> The tight focus is one of the joys of the movie and it, no doubt, helped the film garner 12 Oscar nominations, including one for best picture. In the end, “Lincoln” won only two of those awards, but that doesn’t diminish the historically significant and surprisingly topical on-screen product.     </p> <p>  </p> <p> Spielberg clearly wants viewers to see parallels between Lincoln’s maneuvering and the moves taking place on Capitol Hill today. But one needn’t be a political junkie to enjoy the film. What will help is a healthy interest in history and a long attention span. The latter is important because “Lincoln” runs 150 minutes, and it’s talky by necessity. Much of the action involves politicians quietly scheming in back rooms and meeting halls. As excruciating as that may sound, Spielberg finds a way to make it thrilling… as long as one pays attention. Drift off, and it’s possible to get hopelessly lost in the complications of the plot.  </p> <p>  </p> <p> Day-Lewis won his third best actor Oscar for his portrayal of Lincoln, and he is deserving of the award. Despite his English roots, the actor disappears so thoroughly into the role that it’s hard to imagine anyone else – American or British – playing it. As depicted by Day-Lewis, Lincoln is a charismatic man who is quick with a story and a smile, but he’s also a fearless champion of his beliefs.    </p> <p>  </p> <p> The supporting cast is also exceptional. Sally Field landed a best supporting actress Oscar nomination for her portrayal of first lady Mary Todd Lincoln, and Tommy Lee Jones earned a best supporting actor nod for his wonderful reading of politician Thaddeus Stevens. Other noteworthy cast members include David Strathairn as William Seward, Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Robert Lincoln, Hal Holbrook as Preston Blair, Jackie Earle Haley as Alexander Stephens, John Hawkes as Robert Latham and James Spader as W.N. Bilbo.</p> <p>  </p> <p> Not surprisingly, Spielberg puts all that talent to use, producing a movie that captures an important moment in American history while demonstrating how few things have changed since Lincoln’s death nearly 150 years ago.   </p> <p>  </p> <p> DVD and Blu-ray extras include a making-of featurette.  </p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/killingthemsoftly.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 410px;" /></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Killing Them Softly</strong></p> <p> <strong>3 stars<br /> Rated R </strong></p> <p> <strong>Anchor</strong><strong> Bay</strong><br /> <strong>Available on: DVD, Blu-ray, digital download and on demand</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> With “Killing Them Softly,” writer-director Andrew Dominik delivers a fascinating crime drama that is both a standard-order thriller and a critique of the American financial system. Based on novelist George V. Higgins’ 1974 novel “Cogan’s Trade,” the film centers on a hitman (Brad Pitt) who is charged with offing the guys that robbed a mob-sponsored poker game.</p> <p>  </p> <p> This premise is relatively simple, but Dominik creates complexity by setting the story against the 2008 presidential race between Barack Obama and John McCain. Frequently, the director cuts to real-life news clips referencing America’s economic crisis, inviting comparisons between the above-board economy and that controlled by organized crime.     </p> <p>  </p> <p> The political commentary is interesting, and it helps set the film apart, but the cast is the best part of the feature. Pitt is fantastic as a calculating, ruthless assassin who does whatever it takes to get the job done. He gets equally strong supporting work from Ray Liotta, James Gandolfini and Richard Jenkins, all playing fellow mobsters.</p> <p>  </p> <p> Dominik excels in crafting a gritty atmosphere that’s reminiscent of great mob movies like “Goodfellas.” Unfortunately, he also allows the film to bog down in talky sections that wander into unnecessary territory. Because of this, the project isn’t a complete success, but its good points easily outweigh the bad.</p> <p>  </p> <p> DVD and Blu-ray extras include deleted scenes and a making-of featurette.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/parentalguidance.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 445px;" /></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Parental Guidance</strong></p> <p> <strong>2½ stars<br /> Rated PG<br /> 20<sup>th</sup> Century Fox<br /> Available on: DVD, Blu-ray, digital download and on demand</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> Andy Fickman built his film career directing mid-tier family comedies with the likes of “She’s the Man” and “Race to Witch Mountain.” With “Parental Guidance,” he walks the same ground by delivering an amusing, if altogether predictable, film about the complexities of familial relationships.</p> <p>  </p> <p> The always lovable Billy Crystal and Bette Midler star as Artie and Diane Decker, an aging couple who have become increasingly alienated from their daughter, Alice (Marisa Tomei). There aren’t significant hard feelings between the three, but Alice didn’t appreciate the parenting style that her folks employed, and she is taking care to raise her three children differently. Things get tense when Alice and her husband, Phil (Tom Everett Scott), need Artie and Diane to babysit for a few days.</p> <p>  </p> <p> As events play out, Alice faces the worry that her old-school parents will instill “bad habits” in her children. In the meantime, Artie and Diane have no idea how to cope with the modern lifestyle that Alice and her family enjoy. Because this is a family comedy, everything works out in the end, and everyone is better off for the events that occur. The fun is in watching how things unfold.  </p> <p>  </p> <p> Anyone who demands subtlety from the cinema may be put off by the movie’s in-your-face brand of humor. In fact, “Parental Guidance” is a borderline farce. The characters are larger than life, and they often do things no right-thinking human beings would even consider. Still, the movie is largely enjoyable.</p> <p>  </p> <p> Most of the credit goes to Crystal and Midler who are fun to watch playing off one another and the other actors in the ensemble. Tomei and Scott are solid in their cookie-cutter roles, and all three child actors (Bailee Madison, Joshua Rush and Kyle Harrison Breitkopf) do a reasonably good job. “Parental Guidance” doesn’t take viewers anyplace unexpected, and it’s certainly not highbrow. Nevertheless, it’s reasonably good fun for children and parents to enjoy together.    </p> <p>  </p> <p> DVD and Blu-ray extras include deleted scenes and an audio commentary with Crystal and Fickman.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/thecollection.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 337px;" /></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>The Collection </strong></p> <p> <strong>1½ stars<br /> Rated R for </strong></p> <p> <strong>Lionsgate<br /> Available on: DVD, Blu-ray, digital download and on demand</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> Horror films about diabolical mass murderers are ever-present, but only a few are worth the time required to view them. “The Collection,” a sequel to the 2009 film “The Collector,” is a standard-order slasher flick that does little to set itself apart.</p> <p>  </p> <p> Directed and co-written by Marcus Dunstan, “The Collection” takes over where “The Collector” left off, but one needn’t watch the original movie to understand what’s going on. The action centers on a whacked-out uber-villain who kills multitudes of people in ridiculously gruesome ways. His trademark, however, is that he leaves one person alive, so he can add him or her to his “collection.”</p> <p>  </p> <p> The latest person to be kidnapped is Elena (Emma Fitzpatrick), a young woman who lives alone with her doting father (Christopher McDonald). When Emma is taken, a victim from the first movie – Arkin (Josh Stewart) – is inadvertently freed, making him the first person to escape the killer’s grasp.</p> <p>  </p> <p> This sets the stage for a twist. Emma’s father asks a long-time friend and employee, Lucello (Lee Tergeson), to attempt a rescue. In hopes of completing the request, Lucello rounds up a group of vigilantes and convinces Arkin to take them to the murderer’s lair. Trouble is, the hunters quickly become the prey because every inch of the facility is booby trapped.</p> <p>  </p> <p> It’s nice to see a slasher film where at least some of the characters are actively attempting to hunt and kill the bad guy. Too often, victims in such movies just passively wait to get picked off. On the whole, however, “The Collection” isn’t particularly inventive. The unnamed killer dispatches countless victims in horrible ways, moving ever-closer to a climactic showdown with Arkin, Lucello and Elena.</p> <p>  </p> <p> People who go to horror films primarily for the gore may find some enjoyment in “The Collector,” but fans of strong plotting and intellectual chills will be better served elsewhere. </p> <p>  </p> <p> DVD and Blu-ray extras include behind-the-scenes featurettes, deleted scenes and an audio commentary with Dunstan and co-writer Patrick Melton.   </p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/aroyalaffair.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 360px;" /></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>ALSO OUT THIS WEEK</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>“A Royal Affair”:</strong> This historical drama was nominated for best foreign language film during the most recent Oscar race. Set during the reign of Danish King Christian VII, it tells the story of an affair between the queen and a royal physician. Directed by Nikolaj Arcel.  </p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>“Star Trek – Enterprise” – Season One:</strong> This prequel to the original “Star Trek” television series is finally receiving a high-definition Blu-ray release, meaning it’s sure to look better than ever before. The focus of the show is on Starfleet officers aboard the first Earth vessel capable of interstellar travel. Scott Bakula, Connor Trinneer, Jolene Blalock and Dominic Keating star.  </p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>“Veep” – The Complete First Season:</strong> The second season of this well-liked HBO comedy series begins airing next month. In the meantime, viewers can check out the 12 episodes presented here. Julia Louis-Dreyfus stars as a rising political star who discovers that life as vice president of the United States is not what she expected.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>“Continuum” – Season One:</strong> Ten episodes of the Canadian science-fiction series about a future cop (Rachel Nichols) who is transported from 2077 to 2012 along with a group of terrorists. Living in a world that, to her, is ancient history, Rachel works to apprehend the criminals before they alter both the past and the future. Victor Webster and Erik Knudsen also star.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>“The Borgias – The Original Crime Family” – The Second Season</strong>: Ten episodes of the Showtime drama about the Borgia family whose members held vast political and religious power during the turn of the 16<sup>th</sup> century. Jeremy Irons, Holliday Grainger, Francois Arnaud, David Oakes and Colm Feore star. </p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>“LEGO Star Wars – The Empire Strikes Out”:</strong> Twenty-two minute, animated comedy from the folks at LEGO. The story is set after events depicted in the original “Star Wars” movie, and it focuses on Luke Skywalker, who is having trouble fulfilling his rebel duties because fanatical girls follow him everywhere. Another plot thread involves a rivalry between Darth Maul and Darth Vader</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>“A Man Escaped”:</strong> Freshly restored release of director Robert Bresson’s 1956 film about a member of the French resistance who is imprisoned by Nazis during World War II. Presented in French with English subtitles. </p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>“Monsieur Verdoux”:</strong> Criterion Collection release of Charlie Chaplin’s 1947 film about an unemployed man who makes money by marrying wealthy women and murdering them. Chaplin is the writer, director and star.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>“Mystery Science Theater 3000” – XXVI:</strong> Four episodes from the cult classic show where a man and his robot pals poke fun at bad movies. The films featured in this four-DVD set are “The Magic Sword,” “Alien From L.A.,” “Danger!! Death Ray” and “The Mole People.”</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>“IMAX – The Arctic”:</strong> This documentary film was originally presented in IMAX theaters, and it tells the survival story of a mother polar bear and her two cubs. Directed by Greg MacGillivray.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>“The Carol Burnett Show – This Time Together”:</strong> Six-DVD set collecting 17 episodes of Burnett’s popular, 1960s and ’70s variety show. Series regulars Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence and Tim Conway join Burnett for the comedy hijinks.  </p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>“From Beyond”:</strong> Fresh release of the 1986 horror movie about scientists who unwittingly open the door to a terrifying parallel universe. The Stuart Gordon-directed film is based on a short story by H.P. Lovecraft.  </p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Author Bio:</strong></p> <p> <em>Forrest Hartman, a</em> Highbrow Magazine <em>contributor, is an independent film critic whose byline has appeared in some of the nation's largest publications. For more of his work visit <a href="http://www.ForrestHartman.com">www.ForrestHartman.com</a>.</em></p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/lincoln" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Lincoln</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/steven-spielberg" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Steven Spielberg</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/daniel-day-lewis" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">daniel day lewis</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/oscars" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Oscars</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/sally-field" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">sally field</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/killing-them-softly" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">killing them softly</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/brad-pitt" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">brad pitt</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/royal-affair" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">a royal affair</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/parental-guidance" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">parental guidance</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/billy-crystal" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">billy crystal</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/bette-midler" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">bette midler</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/borgias" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">The Borgias</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/monsieur-verdoux" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">monsieur verdoux</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Forrest Hartman</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pop field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Popular:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">not popular</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-photographer field-type-text field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Photographer:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Disney</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-bot field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Bottom Slider:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Out Slider</div></div></div> Tue, 26 Mar 2013 16:31:55 +0000 tara 2570 at https://www.highbrowmagazine.com https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/2283-lincoln-killing-them-softly-arrive-dvd-blu-ray#comments Oscars 2013: Which Film Will Win ‘Best Picture’? https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/2193-oscars-which-film-will-win-best-picture <div class="field field-name-field-cat field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/film-tv" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Film &amp; TV</a></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by">Submitted by tara on Fri, 02/22/2013 - 08:24</span><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/mediumArgo%20-%20Horizontal_0.JPG?itok=9wAuoq4E"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/mediumArgo%20-%20Horizontal_0.JPG?itok=9wAuoq4E" width="480" height="320" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>  </p> <p> “The good news is that I've seen the films of one of the best recent years in cinema.”  <a href="http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2012/12/eberts_top_movies_of_2012.html">Roger Ebert</a> recently made this bold proclamation regarding the year 2012 in cinema, but is it really an accurate statement about the quality of films offered this past year?  2012 has had its fair share of ups and downs in movie selection just like any other year, but out of respect to Ebert, 2012 films nominated for this year’s Academy Awards are an excellent crop, which critics hailed as one of Hollywood’s recent impressive achievements.</p> <p>  </p> <p> The Best Picture of the year can usually be predicted before the Oscar nominees have even been announced.  This year, the Golden Globes awarded <a href="http://www.goldenglobes.org/2012/12/nominations-2013/"><em>Argo</em> with the Best Drama award and <em>Les Miserables</em> with the Best Comedy or Musical award</a>.  While the Golden Globes have a track record of predicting the Oscar winner only <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/golden-globes-oscars-prediction-279393">55 percent of the time</a> in the past 20 years, the list of nominees and the two winners present an accurate glimpse of what is to come at the Oscars.</p> <p>  </p> <p> “Having 10 Best Picture nominees will allow Academy voters to recognize and include some of the fantastic movies that often show up in the other Oscar categories but have been squeezed out of the race for the top prize,’ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_Award_for_Best_Picture">AMPAS President Sid Ganis said at a press conference.</a>”  While the expansion of the Best Picture category at the Oscars allows for more movies to receive the recognition they deserve, it does not change the fact that the voters lean towards awarding similar themes and performances every year.  They love dramas, lengthy historical epics, and tales of patriotism, controversy, and triumph over adversity.  Along that same line, if we take into consideration the <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/12/mass-shootings-victims-2012">rash of shootings</a> across the country, the possibility of the United States having to intervene in another conflict in the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/19/israel-gaza-conflict-2012-civilian-casualties_n_2157437.html">Middle East</a>, and the increasing <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/11/north-korea-rocket-launch-2012_n_2280964.html">long-range missile capabilities</a> of other nations popping up across the news in 2012, it does not come as a surprise that three of the top contenders for Best Picture this year center around war and U.S. foreign relations.  </p> <p>  </p> <p> That brings us to this year’s nine <a href="http://blog.zap2it.com/pop2it/2012/09/2013-oscar-nominations-announcement-will-come-early-pre-golden-globes.html">Best Picture</a> nominees and their chances of walking home with the Best Picture gold:</p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/amourfilm.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 418px;" /></p> <p>  </p> <p> <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1602620/"><strong><em>Amour</em></strong></a> <strong> (5 percent)</strong></p> <p> Foreign language films very rarely win the Best Picture honors at the Academy Awards.  <em>Amour</em> is almost surely to win the Best Foreign Language Film award this year, but its chances of taking the Best Picture award away from eight English language films is most unlikely. </p> <p> <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/2mediumargo.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 400px;" /></p> <p>  </p> <p> <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1024648/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1"><strong><em>Argo</em></strong></a> <strong>(15 percent)</strong></p> <p> Roger Ebert listed <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000255/">Ben Affleck</a>’s <em>Argo</em> in the top spot for his list of <a href="http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2012/12/eberts_top_movies_of_2012.html">best movies of 2012</a>:  “This film takes first place on my best movie list because it is above all else a movie -- pure, strong and sound. It has the classic values of a Hollywood thriller. It is ‘based on a true story.’”</p> <p>  </p> <p> Ebert is similar to the Academy Awards voters:  He prefers his movies based on true stories and he loves movies that tug at the heart strings (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1832382/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1"><em>A Separation</em></a> and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1285016/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1"><em>The Social Network</em></a> were his last two picks for number one.)  <em>Argo</em> fulfills both of these requirements as it gives us a behind-the-scenes look of what happened in 1979 when the CIA had to rescue six Americans from Iran.  <em>Argo</em> is Ben Affleck’s most adventurous work yet and deserves to be nominated for this award, but it will most likely be edged out by either <em>Zero Dark Thirty</em> or <em>Lincoln</em>, unless Hollywood decides it wants to not only award the film but also give itself a pat on the back for having been a part of that rescue mission.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/beastsfilm.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 336px;" /></p> <p>  </p> <p> <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2125435/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1"><strong><em>Beasts of the Southern Wild</em></strong></a> <strong>(5 percent)</strong></p> <p> You have two stories about a big storm, a child learning about dangers in life and how to beat them, and they are both told with elements of fantasy strewn throughout.  <em>Beasts </em>and <em>Life of Pi</em> will cancel each other out here. </p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/djangofilm.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 375px;" /></p> <p>  </p> <p> <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1853728/"><strong><em>Django Unchained</em></strong></a> <strong>(5 percent)</strong></p> <p> <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000233/">Quentin Tarantino</a> is again putting a unique spin on a piece of history with which we are all familiar.  The movie deals with a controversial piece of American history, but it will likely not win Best Picture this year.  Tarantino is one of the more exciting directors to watch but his violent stories of revenge won’t win top honors – even if they deal with the history of slavery in the United States.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/lesmisfilm.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 400px;" /></p> <p>  </p> <p> <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1707386/"><strong><em>Les Miserables</em></strong></a> <strong>(10 percent)</strong></p> <p> <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004266/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1">Anne Hathaway</a> is sure to take home the Best Supporting Actress award this year for her portrayal of the tragic Fantine.  Her short performance has everything required of a top actress award at the Oscars:  she <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/12/anne-hathaway-weight-loss-intense-diet-les-mis_n_2116324.html">lost 25 pounds</a>, had her <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2012/07/17/anne-hathaway-says-cutting-her-hair-was-scariest-moment-in-her-career/">hair cut off</a>, and she added a new skill of <a href="http://movieline.com/2012/12/27/listen-anne-hathaway-les-miserables-i-dreamed-a-dream/">singing</a> to her repertoire.  The Fantine story is only in the first part of the movie, however, and is not enough to propel the rest of the dimly-lit, live-sung story to Best Picture glory.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/lifeofpi.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 338px;" /></p> <p>  </p> <p> <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0454876/"><strong><em>Life of Pi</em></strong></a> <strong>(5 percent)</strong></p> <p> As noted above with <em>Beasts</em>, this movie is most likely to be canceled out while running against another similarly themed fantasy movie.   <em>Pi</em> is a beautifully shot and well-assembled movie that will garner it plenty of awards in the editing and cinematography categories, but the story is not solid enough to give it a chance to win Best Picture.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/mediumlincolnmovie_0.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 398px;" /></p> <p>  </p> <p> <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0443272/"><strong><em>Lincoln</em></strong></a> <strong>(24 percent)</strong></p> <p> <em>Lincoln</em> could take the top honor this year – especially with <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000358/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1">Daniel Day-Lewis</a>’ spot-on performance as Abraham Lincoln.  Day-Lewis has won the Best Actor Oscar twice now:  once for <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097937/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1"><em>My Left Foot</em></a> and the other for <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0469494/"><em>There Will Be Blood</em></a>.  He is sure to win it again this year with his portrayal of the 16<sup>th</sup> president of the United States of America.  The Academy voters love this kind of material; however, <em>Lincoln</em> can really only boast one award-worthy performance (Day-Lewis) and it might not be enough to give this movie the top award unless voters have already soured on the other overly-hyped war movie this year.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/silverliningsfilm.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 372px;" /></p> <p>  </p> <p> <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1045658/"><strong><em>Silver Linings Playbook</em></strong></a> <strong>(5 percent)</strong></p> <p> Comedies – not to mention romantic comedies – do not fare well in this category.  All four of the main actors in this movie are nominated for awards in their categories (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0177896/">Bradley Cooper</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2225369/">Jennifer Lawrence</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000134/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1">Robert DeNiro</a>, and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0915865/">Jackie Weaver</a>.)  This is the first time in 31 years that <a href="http://www.thewrap.com/awards/article/silver-linings-playbook-becomes-first-film-31-years-nominated-all-4-acting-categories-72346">this has happened</a> and is a good sign that this movie’s performances are well-received, but is not an indication that <em>Playbook</em> has any better chance at winning the Best Picture award than any of the other movies in this category.  If the Academy were bold enough to break free from the mold of Oscar history, the award would go to <em>Silver Linings Playbook</em>. </p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/2mediumzerodarkthirty.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 401px;" /></p> <p>  </p> <p> <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1790885/"><strong><em>Zero Dark Thirty</em></strong></a> <strong>(26 percent)</strong></p> <p> Most people living in the U.S. today remember the announcement of the death of Osama bin Laden on <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/02/world/asia/osama-bin-laden-is-killed.html?pagewanted=all&amp;_r=0">May 1, 2011</a> – the actual event upon which this movie is based.  Most people also vividly remember the tragedy of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_11_attacks">September 11, 2001</a> – the reason that announcement, that death, and this movie could even exist. </p> <p>  </p> <p> <em>Zero Dark Thirty</em> will win the Best Picture Oscar for this reason. As the discovery and murder of Osama bin Laden – the mastermind behind the September 11 attacks – took place less than two years ago, the idea and eventual script for this movie came about way too quickly to put together a cinematic piece worthy of sitting among the ranks of true-life stories of memorable events in the nation’s history.  However, the lack of story, lack of connectivity to the protagonist “Maya”, and the unnecessarily lengthy and hokey telling of the decade-long search for Bin Laden will be overshadowed by all of the <a href="http://movies.yahoo.com/news/senate-panel-to-examine-cia-contacts-with--zero-dark-thirty--filmmakers-165759352.html">controversy and drama</a> surrounding the film and the constant chatter around it.  Come Oscar night, the award will most likely go to <em>Zero Dark Thirty</em>.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Author Bio:</strong></p> <p> <em>Suzanne Scacca is a contributing writer at</em> Highbrow Magazine.</p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/oscars" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Oscars</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/oscars-2013" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">oscars 2013</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/argo" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">argo</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/beasts-southern-wild" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">beasts of the southern wild</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/zero-dark-thirty" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">zero dark thirty</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/les-miserables" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">les miserables</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/anne-hathaway" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">anne hathaway</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/ben-affleck" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">ben affleck</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/django-unchained" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">django unchained</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/quentin-tarantino" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">quentin tarantino</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/life-pi" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">life of pi</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/lincoln" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Lincoln</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/steven-spielberg" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Steven Spielberg</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/daniel-day-lewis" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">daniel day lewis</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/silver-linings-playbook" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">silver linings playbook</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Suzanne Scacca</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pop field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Popular:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">not popular</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-bot field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Bottom Slider:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Out Slider</div></div></div> Fri, 22 Feb 2013 13:24:37 +0000 tara 2408 at https://www.highbrowmagazine.com https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/2193-oscars-which-film-will-win-best-picture#comments Celebrating Presidents in Movies https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/2156-celebrating-presidents-movies <div class="field field-name-field-cat field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/film-tv" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Film &amp; TV</a></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by">Submitted by tara on Mon, 02/18/2013 - 11:00</span><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/mediumWmovie.jpg?itok=HhvACeRG"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/mediumWmovie.jpg?itok=HhvACeRG" width="480" height="360" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>  </p> <p> President’s Day, or February 18<sup>th</sup> as the good people residing in Bhutan may call it, is a second-tier holiday. Most get the day off, a few buy a mattress and everyone else is looking for ways to kill the time on a winter day. No parades, no festival of lights, or even sparklers. What better way to honor the men (sorry ladies) that have served as the lone executive to the United States and spruce up the holiday than watching a movie with a President in the starring role?</p> <p>  </p> <p> Sure, movies can be ranked by “quality” and “entertainment value.” For this list, let’s go with the movie President’s “electability.” Many can run but only one can win. Let’s throw in fictional Presidents and portrayals of actual Presidents and see who wins.</p> <p>  </p> <p> First, these are the movie Presidents did not survive the primaries:</p> <p> <strong><em>Man of the Year</em></strong> with Robin Williams – No.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong><em>W.</em> </strong>with Josh Brolin – Eight years was enough, no need for one more day.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong><em>Deep Impact</em></strong> with Morgan Freeman –No, whether Black, White, Asian or Babylonian, having the Earth get smashed by a giant meteor is not a good re-election strategy.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong><em>Independence Day</em></strong> with Bill Pullman– See above, anytime aliens are allowed to occupy airspace over every major city while the President dithers and then decides to nuke Houston (there goes all of Texas’ electoral votes) not inspiring. Also, the speech gets lamer every year.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong><em>Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Slayer</em></strong> with some guy not named Daniel Day Lewis – To channel Eli Cash, well, everyone knows there were no vampires in the Civil War. What this movie presupposes is… maybe there were? Also the acting is stiffer than Lincoln’s corpse (too soon?)… Josh Brolin’s <em>W.</em> should get more votes…</p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/mediumindependenceday.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 351px;" /></p> <p>  </p> <p> Now onto the contenders who will spend the election cycle posturing until that faithful Tuesday in November when all their hopes and dreams come down to voter turnout in Cleveland and retirement communities in Florida.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>12.<em> Absolute Power</em></strong> – Gene Hackman plays an adulterous, abusive President whose lecherous actions causes his secret service detail to gun down a millionaire donor’s wife while a cat burglar, played by Clint Eastwood watches the whole thing after committing breaking and entering. That is some serious first-world problems.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>11. <em>Thirteen Days</em></strong> – Bruce Greenwood portrays President John F. Kennedy during the Cuban Missile Crisis. While this movie is not without its flaws, Greenwood’s portrayal of Kennedy shows the President’s command of history and political savvy that avoided nuclear war with the Soviet Union.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>10.<em> Frost/Nixon</em></strong> – Frank Langella channels a vanquished Nixon post-Watergate with all his personal psychoses and political instincts that led to his rise to the highest office in the land and to be thrown out of office. Ron Howard gets the most out of what sounds like a boring premise.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/mediummarsattacks.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 303px;" /></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>9.<em> Mars Attacks!</em></strong> – This silly Tim Burton movie really isn’t any good, however, when Jack Nicholson is the President that means democracy works.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>8.<em> Head of State</em></strong> – Another movie whose punch lines fall short for most of its duration, then again, Chris Rock plays an African-American President who does not let the Earth get hit by an asteroid.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>7.<em> Idiocracy</em></strong> – This is like gettingtwo Presidents in one election, first Terry Crews, one of <em>The Expendables</em>, portrays President Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Herbert Camacho in a future United States where I.Q. is no longer valued. Luke Wilson, eventually becomes President No One, and America keeps on trucking.  </p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/mediumyounglincoln.jpg" style="width: 425px; height: 600px;" /></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>6.<em> Young Mr. Lincoln</em></strong> – Henry Fonda plays Abraham Lincoln without a high-pitch voice, weird. He captures the singular genius of Lincoln as he becomes a self-taught lawyer and not a single vampire was killed in the film, seriously weird.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>5.<em> The American President</em></strong> – Michael Douglas plays President Andrew Shepard. Annette Benning plays Sydney Allen Wade, the world’s greatest environmental lobbyist. President Shepard buys her ham, they fall in love. Then some Republican Senator (Bob Rumson played by Paul Dreyfus) who wants to be President starts to slander Sydney Allen Wade instead of running on issues.  Then President Shepard gives the greatest press conference ever, wins back Sydney Allen Wade and saves the environment… sounds about right Hollywood.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>4.<em> The Wind and the Lion</em></strong> – Brian Keith’s Theodore Roosevelt’s captures the complexity and energy of not only of history’s great Presidents and historical characters. After Candace Bergen and her family are kidnapped by North African tribesman, Roosevelt makes the decision to send in the Marines, a big decision at the time as the United States was not the world power it is today. Standing in the way for the mission to be success, the North African tribesmen’s leader has a Scottish accent, that’s right, Sean Connery. It gets real.</p> <p> <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/mediumlincolnmovie.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 398px;" /></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>3.<em> Lincoln</em></strong> – Yes, Daniel Day-Lewis was great as Abraham Lincoln. Yes, there is no doubt that Daniel Day-Lewis became Abraham Lincoln. The script was smart.  The problem is that four score and seven years from now the ending will still be eye-rolling tacky.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>2.<em> Dave</em></strong> – Anytime Charles Grodin can solve America’s budgetary problems in less than 48 hours, then it is a gem of a film.  Kevin Kline plays a guy who looks just like the President and then becomes the President and hijinks ensue. This movie is sweet without being sugary and has a re-watch factor on cable television that ranks up there with <em>Top Gun</em> and <em>Road House</em>.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>1.<em> The Contender</em></strong> – The Vice Presidency is available and, gasp, Jeff Bridges’ President Jackson Evan wants to pick a woman (played by Joan Allen) to fill the vacancy. Political intrigue and dramatic hearings run amok. Christian Slater plays a Congressman from Delaware (that wasn’t a joke). None of it matters; Jeff Bridges still has a contact high from <em>The Big Lebowski</em>. President Evans is more concerned with trying to trip up the White House kitchen staff, he is thwarted at every turn, and they even deliver a sword-fish sandwich. It is a given that Bridges found a rug that tied the whole White House together. The Dude abides and so does America.</p> <p>  </p> <p> Happy President’s Day America, and enjoy a movie with loved ones on the only day of the year when James Buchanan, Calvin Coolidge and Millard Filmore are on equal standing with Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Author Bio:</strong></p> <p> <em>Kurt Thurber is a contributing writer at</em> Highbrow Magazine. </p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/w" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">w</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/josh-brolin" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">josh brolin</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/lincoln" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Lincoln</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/daniel-day-lewis" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">daniel day lewis</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/independence-day" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Independence Day</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/bill-pullman" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">bill pullman</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/will-smith" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Will Smith</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/young-mr-lincoln" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">young mr. lincoln</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/henry-fonda" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">henry fonda</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/thirteen-days" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">thirteen days</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/presidents-day" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">presidents day</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/contender" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">the contender</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/idiocracy" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">idiocracy</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Kurt Thurber</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pop field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Popular:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">not popular</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-bot field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Bottom Slider:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Out Slider</div></div></div> Mon, 18 Feb 2013 16:00:21 +0000 tara 2378 at https://www.highbrowmagazine.com https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/2156-celebrating-presidents-movies#comments