Features







2007-08 Oscar Calendar



[Monday, December 3, 2007]

Official Screen Credits
Forms Due.


[Wednesday, December 26, 2007]

Nominations ballots mailed.


[Saturday, January 12, 2008]

Nominations polls close
5 p.m. PST.


[Tuesday, January 22, 2008]

Nominations announced
5:30 a.m. PST
Samuel Goldwyn Theater


[Wednesday, January 30, 2008]

Final ballots mailed.


[Monday, February 4, 2008]

Nominees Luncheon


[Saturday, February 9, 2008]

Scientific and Technical
Awards Dinner


[Tuesday, February 19, 2008]

Final polls close 5 p.m. PST.


[Sunday, February 24, 2008]

79th Annual
Academy Awards Presentation
Kodak Theatre

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"3:10 to Yuma" (***1/2)

yuma3.jpg


It's been about a week since my screening of James Mangold's "3:10 to Yuma." I don't have the time or psychological energy to devote a review to it (or any other film) at this time (grad school orientation), but it's a winner inside and out. Kevin Costner's "Open Range," David Milch's "Deadwood" and now, James Mangold's "3:10" remake/re-adaptation are officially the holy trinity of the western's resurgence in my mind, a story I've been waiting on a major to pick up for some time. But no one seems willing to dig into the genre's obvious return. If Andrew Dominik's "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" is as stellar as early word suggests...


In any case, Mangold's film, working from a rather brilliant script by Halsted Welles, Michael Brandt and Derek Haas, is cut from the same cloth as Delmer Daves's 1957 original. But Elmore Leonard's 11 page short story only takes an audience so far, providing a third act for what is obviously a much broader story, one that could be taken in a number of different directions. What I liked most about Mangold's treatment of the material was how married he clearly was to tone. This is a real western dug out of the same earth as the roughest of John Ford cinema or even Don Siegel. It drips with righteousness and deeper meanings, emotions and considerations. I did cartwheels.


The narrative has an issue here or there, but I think it has become the one film I seem to allow myself each year that I love, stitches and all. Christian Bale is fantastic as a world-weary soul and a man seeking redemption in the eyes of his family, and Russell Crowe is equal parts charm and savagery, a combination we haven't seen out of the actor in quite a long time. Ben Foster is also electric, though given a few too many lines for the characters' own good. But, through and through, it's a sturdy ensemble and a thoroughly enjoyable one.


I love this genre.


(Dealing with some Photoshop issues at the moment. Images will be forthcoming.)

Comments

Great review, Kris (as usual). If I didn't say it earlier, I apologize if I accused you of dismissing this movie (which you clearly didn't!). BTW, try and find some photos of Ben Foster to add with the others you find.

Is Don Spiegel related to Don Siegel?

Cute.

Clearly a typo.

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2008 Year in Advance Predictions


UPDATED: 2/25/2008





Main Charts | Tech Charts



[Motion Picture]

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

“Doubt”

“Frost/Nixon”

“Revolutionary Road”

“The Soloist”



[Directing]

David Fincher
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

Ron Howard
“Frost/Nixon”

Gus Van Sant
“Milk”

Sam Mendes
“Revolutionary Road”

Joe Wright
“The Soloist”



[Actor in a Leading Role]

Benicio Del Toro
“The Argentine”

Jamie Foxx
“The Soloist”

Frank Langella
“Frost/Nixon”

Sean Penn
“Milk”

Brad Pitt
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”



[Actress in a Leading Role]

Vera Farmiga
“Nothing But the Truth”

Angelina Jolie
“Changeling”

Julianne Moore
“Blindness”

Meryl Streep
“Doubt”

Kate Winslet
“Revolutionary Road”



[Actor in a Supporting Role]

Josh Brolin
“Milk”

Russell Crowe
“Body of Lies”

Robert Downey, Jr.
“The Soloist”

Heath Ledger
“The Dark Knight”

Michael Sheen
“Frost/Nixon”



[Actress in a Supporting Role]

Amy Adams
“Doubt”

Kathy Bates
“Revolutionary Road”

Cate Blanchett
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

Catherine Keener
“The Soloist”

Carice van Houten
“Body of Lies”



[Writing, Adapted Screenplay]

“Body of Lies”

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

“Doubt”

“Frost/Nixon”

“Revolutionary Road”



[Writing, Original Screenplay]

“Changeling”

“Hamlet 2”

“Milk”

“The Soloist”

“WALL·E”



[Art Direction]

“Australia”

“Defiance”

“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom
of the Crystal Skull”

“Red Cliff”

“Revolutionary Road”



[Cinematography]

“Australia”

“The Dark Knight”

“Defiance”

“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom
of the Crystal Skull”

“Revolutionary Road”



[Costume Design]

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

“Doubt”

“The Other Boleyn Girl”

“Red Cliff”

“Revolutionary Road”



[Film Editing]

“Body of Lies”

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

“Defiance”

“Frost/Nixon”

“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom
of the Crystal Skull”



[Makeup]

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

“The Dark Knight”

“Red Cliff”



[Music, Original Score]

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom
of the Crystal Skull”

“The Soloist”

“Revolutionary Road”

“WALL·E”



[Music, Original Song]

coming soon



[Sound Editing]

“Defiance”

“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom
of the Crystal Skull”

“Iron Man”

“Speed Racer”

“WALL·E”



[Sound Mixing]

“Defiance”

“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom
of the Crystal Skull”

“Cloverfield”

“The Chronicles of Narnia:
Prince Caspian”

“WALL·E”



[Visual Effects]

“The Chronicles of Narnia:
Prince Caspian”

“The Incredible Hulk”

“Iron Man”



[Animated Feature Film]

“9”

“Kung Fu Panda”

“WALL·E”



[Foreign Language Film]

coming soon



[Documentary, Features]

coming soon



[Documentary, Short Subjects]

coming soon



[Short Film, Animated]

coming soon



[Short Film, Live Action]

coming soon