85th Academy Awards Nominees

The 85th Annual Academy Award nominees have been announced this morning via Seth Macfarlane and Emma Stone – much of the nominations are obvious, and only a few surprises. I was sad to see Leonardo DiCaprio snubbed again, this time for his work in Django. Also, notably absent are Ben Affleck for Argo, PT Anderson for …

Film Review: Argo

Ben Affleck has become quite the accomplished filmmaker, with each film he has shown amazing chops, growing and expanding as a storyteller. With ‘Argo,’ Affleck steps out of Boston, and shows that the city isn’t his muse, that he can make excellent films no matter where they take place. Argo tells the story of the …

Review: The Town

The Boston crime movie has become a genre of its own, the past few years have seen ‘Mystic River,’ ‘The Departed,’ and Affleck’s own ‘Gone Baby Gone.’ ‘The Town,’ is another excellent addition to the genre, and shows Affleck becoming increasingly more comfortable in the directors chair. Sam Fuller once said that a movie has …

Capt. Kirk to Play Jack Ryan

He helped revive one franchise, why not two?  Reports this morning say that Chris Pine, best known for playing James Kirk in J.J. Abrams’ “Star Trek,” movie, will be playing Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan character in a re-boot of the series.  Ryan had been played in previous movies by Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford and Ben …

Lively Moves Into Affleck’s “Town”

Another name has been added to the cast of Ben Affleck’s upcoming sophomore directorial film, “The Town.”  Blake Lively, best known for her work on the TV show, “Gossip Girl,” has joined the cast.  Already announced as part of the movie are Jon Hamm, Rebecca Hall, Jeremy Renner and Oscar winner Chris Cooper. “The Town,” …

Affleck Joins Judge’s ‘Extract’

Ben Affleck is in negotiations to star in the new Miramax produced comedy “Extract.” The film is written and will be directed by Mike Judge. Affleck is in talks to play an ambulance-chasing lawyer. The film centers on a flower extract factory owner (played by Jason Bateman) whose dealing with a streak of bad luck, …

DVD Review: Hollywoodland

What killed ‘Superman’ actor George Reeves? A jealous lover? Himself? Was he depressed over his failing acting career? These questions are at the heart of Allan Coulter’s movie ‘Hollywoodland.’ The story takes place at two different times- the first one opens, at the beginning of the end of Reeves’ career. Played by Ben Affleck, Reeves …