There has been a lot of talk this week about Andy Serkis’ stirring performance-capture portrayal of ape rebellion leader Caesar in “Rise of the Planet of the Apes.” In many quarters, writers are calling for consideration in the Best Supporting Actor category. It’s a song and dance Serkis and those of us who follow the […]
Forget Best Supporting Actor — it’s time to honor Andy Serkis’ “Special Achievement”
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 11:14 am · August 4th, 2011
Filed in: Daily
Peter Jackson’s King Kong…again
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 11:01 pm · June 23rd, 2010
I must say, I’m kind of amped for the new Peter Jackson-directed King Kong 360/3D ride at Universal Studios. The old, classic attraction, you might recall, went up in flames along with much of the historic lot when the area caught fire in the summer of 2008. Here’s one of the many commercial spots that […]
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Which films will be remembered in 50 years?
Posted by John Foote · 9:33 am · August 14th, 2009
It is nothing new for a film to be released, find no audience, no critical favor, and disappear to be discovered by a new generation and raised to the level of masterpiece. In fact, this has been going on since the silents. Charlie Chaplin’s masterpiece “City Lights” was released four years after the advent of […]
Filed in: Daily
Which moments hooked you?
Posted by John Foote · 11:43 pm · April 24th, 2009
I love the current poll series about the most influential films of all time, but it got me thinking about the moments in movies that hooked me on cinema forever. You know, the ones we see as kids that have an enormous impact on us, forever bonding us to this art form we all so […]
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‘Lovely Bones’ next year’s Oscar victor?
Posted by John Foote · 9:39 am · February 24th, 2009
Kris recently took his initial stab at predicting next year’s Oscar nominees, so I thought I would join the madness by planting a flag for “The Lovely Bones.” I read the book in three days at the suggestion of my daughter, who knows that I admire Peter Jackson and that this is his next film. […]
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What does early (and excessive) Oscar hype do to a film’s chances?
Posted by John Foote · 3:31 pm · September 20th, 2008
In 1996, a fall movie preview of Entertainment Weekly arrived in my mailbox, the cast of “The Crucible” staring back at me on the cover, making clear to me this was going to be THE film of the fall. There were rumors floating within the industry that the film, based on the Arthur Miller play, […]
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Movies that Oscar missed
Posted by John Foote · 12:12 pm · May 26th, 2008
As film junkies, we all know it happens. Usually every single year there are one or more films the Academy passes over for Best Picture consideration, in some cases because there are, after all, just five slots available, but in others because, well — they blew it. Like the rest of you, I sit and […]
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Best in show 2005: the year in superlatives
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 12:00 am · December 23rd, 2005
It’s time to really round out the year and offer up my picks for awards in 2005. In addition to the typical categories – which finally see their winners announced today – you’ll find some other fun arenas for awards citation. Call it a mish-mash of MTV-Awards-type kudos and other frequently heralded categories we find […]
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SHORT TAKE: “King Kong” (***)
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:12 am · December 6th, 2005
I don’t feel like writing passionately about “King Kong” in the slightest. What I can say with utmost conviction is that the film affords too much of EVERYTHING. The story is bloated, with subplots that could have been fleshed out more succinctly by capable hands (I contend that Peter Jackson is not the most gifted […]
Filed in: Reviews